"Letting Go"

Let us draw near with a sincere heart... having our bodies washed with pure water." Hebrews 10:22. As I reflected on this and other verses last night and Dr. Oliver's message, God gave me a personal message about "letting go" and receiving the blessings (washings, purification) of Christ. As I draw near to God I am reminded of my part in being washed with pure water and the anointing of His Holy Spirit. In John 12:3-7 Christ accepts and honors Mary for her lucrative gift of washing his feet with a pound of fragrant oil- pure and expensive nard. I asked myself, if I had paid a years worth of wages for an expensive perfume, what would I have done with it? Would I have placed it an alabastor jar to gaze at, show off to friends, and occasionally let the strong fragrance fill the room? Would I have idolized this prized possession; wanting others to marvel at my sign of wealth? Would there be feelings of pride for having earned this valued possession; knowing I had worked hard for it? Would I feel the need to hang on to the oil, so when hard times come I would have something of value to fall back on? You know, kind of like a security blanket or insurance policy. I'm afraid to say what I might have done. Mary chose to release and let fall from her grasp the costly perfume. She not only let it fall at the feet of Christ, but she anointed him with the oil and wiped his feet with her hair. She gave up something of extreme value as a sacrificial act; bathing him in her sentiments, comforting, and worshiping Him. Mary's love toward Christ was more than an "act". It represented her devotion, unselfishness, and willingness to surrender all she had. What joy she must have felt at the very moment she tilted the bottle and let the oil spill and flow onto the feet of Christ. Mary did not know that generations and centuries later you and I would be reading about her sacrificial gift. She did not count on it being added to her list of good deeds nor did she expect to achieve fame. She simply surrendered the most precious thing she owned as an act of worship. I don't know about you, but I marvel at the unselfish devotion of Mary. As I Draw Near to God during the remaining weeks of our study, I pray God will show me and each of you those things that have been clung to ever so tightly. There is joy and freedom found in letting go. I am being bathed in his fragrance as I surrender feelings of vanity and pride and I want to receive more of it as I examine my heart. Dr. Oliver stated in the Saturday night service that we are called to give ourselves completely; all of our time, talents, and treasures. God will never leave or forsake us and he has given us today "no more" or "no less" than we need to follow His calling. May you and I reflect His glory as we let go and be conformed to His image. God will bless us as we are in the process of "Being" and "Becoming". - Donna Sheppard